Child Life

At Children's Hospital Colorado, we understand how overwhelming healthcare and hospitalization can be, especially for kids. We're dedicated to improving that experience by engaging and empowering children in their medical care. Our child life team partners with physicians, nurses and other medical professionals to create an emotionally safe healthcare experience.

We’re one of the largest and most innovative child life programs in the country. Our Child Life Department is leading the way in improving healthcare experiences for kids through therapeutic play, connection, creativity, medical dogs, gaming and more.

What is a child life specialist?

Child life specialists are specially trained healthcare professionals who help children and families deal with stress and fear from a diagnosis or medical visit.

Each child life specialist has earned a bachelor's or master's degree in child development, education, psychology, child life or a related field. They've also completed a rigorous clinical internship and maintain a national certification from the Child Life Certification Commission. Child life specialists help children and families build and utilize positive coping strategies during stressful medical experiences.

How do child life specialists help kids in the hospital?

Medical preparation and pre-surgery teaching

When a child needs a medical test, procedure or surgery, a child life specialist can be by their side. Our specialists help prepare them, develop a coping plan and ease their worries. Your child receives just the right amount of information based on their age or developmental level.

Our approach aims to decrease fear and provide strategies a child can use during their medical experience. We also teach you what to expect during hospital procedures and how to best support your child.

Support during your child's procedures

Child life specialists help children manage distress, pain or anxiety related to medical procedures. They act as your child's coach and advocate. Our specialists support your child through their procedure using various techniques such as preparation, distraction and relaxation exercises.

Medical and therapeutic play

A hands-on medical play experience uses real or pretend medical equipment to help children become more familiar with the hospital. Children can express their feelings and fears about their healthcare experience and become more confident. Medical play can also help assess your child’s understanding of their hospitalization or treatment. Additionally, therapeutic play helps to distract from pain, meet treatment goals, express feelings, learn new skills and meet developmental milestones.

Support for siblings and peers

Siblings and peers can also be affected by a child’s illness or injury. They may need help understanding what is happening and guidance to work through their feelings and concerns. Our child life specialists can provide education, preparation and support.

Support for parents and caregivers

A child's diagnosis and healthcare needs can be overwhelming and, at times, confusing. Our child life specialists offer support and information to parents and caregivers so they can best support their child.

Emotional support for patients

For patients of any age, a new diagnosis, clinic visit or hospital stay can be intimidating. That's why our child life specialists provide emotional support to children to help them process their experiences and feelings.

Child life programs and resources

In addition to the above child life services, Children's Colorado's Child Life Department hosts a robust number of programs, including:

Adaptive Care Program

The Adaptive Care Program  supports children with developmental, sensory and behavioral challenges throughout their healthcare experiences. Our experts support families and children who need help coping and cooperating in a healthcare setting. We create individualized adaptive care plans to provide additional support.

Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program

The Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program uses the arts to help children express, create and heal in an open and supportive environment. We offer art, music, dance, movement and yoga.

Medical Dog Program

Through the Medical Dog Program, child life specialists and other clinical staff partner with highly-trained facility dogs to support our patients. Medical dogs soften the clinical environment, help motivate children to meet their goals and bring joy.

Extended Reality Program

Children's Colorado is the leader among pediatric hospitals in utilizing extended reality technology for patient care to improve outcomes and patient experience. Extended reality  includes virtual, augmented and mixed reality. This technology reduces pain and anxiety, supports physical therapy and promotes calm during procedures.

Our Extended Reality Program (XRP) leverages gaming and technology to amplify the already incredible impact of our child life team with custom in-house developed XR experiences. We have dedicated gaming technology and STEAM specialists who partner with child life specialists in direct patient care, bringing gaming to children throughout the hospital.

Learn how we're using extended reality in pediatric care.

Seacrest Studio

Seacrest Studios is a state-of-the-art, multimedia studio that broadcasts to a closed-circuit TV system to provide a fun escape for patients, families and visitors.

T(w)een Zone

The Patricia Crown Family T(w)een Zone is a space just for kids 10 years and older at the Anschutz Medical Campus. Patients and their siblings can enjoy this state-of-the-art, 3,000-square-foot lounge that offers a variety of activities.

Child life activity coordinators

Along with certified child life specialists, our team of child life activity coordinators provides additional play, normalization and socialization opportunities.

Youth Advisory Council

Our child life team partners with the hospital's Youth Advisory Council, a group of teens who are former patients or siblings of patients at Children's Colorado. This Council helps improve the environment for pediatric patients and allows the patients and siblings to have a voice in decisions for the hospital.

Educational experiences

We're proud to train future child life specialists through our Child Life Internship and Child Life Practicum programs. Contact us if you are interested in a career as a child life specialist.

Contact us

Anschutz Campus: 720-777-6979

Health Pavilion: 720-777-4667

North Campus: 720-478-4007

South Campus: 720-478-0285

Colorado Springs: 719-305-7003